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Do you realise that the majority of household cleaning products and personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners and moisturisers, contain a cocktail of unnecessary chemicals?
They look harmless and sweet smelling, but your average body care product contains a cocktail of unnecessary chemicals that will make your mind boggle. It is even worse when you reflect on that fact that the skin of babies and children is up to 5 times thinner than that of adults. It is more sensitive and significantly more permeable. Actually, up to 60% of what you rub onto your child's skin is absorbed through the skin and can be detected in the blood within minutes.
Immediate irritations is always an issue, but we should have concerns about the long term impact these chemicals have as they absorb into our children's bloodstream and accumulate in their bodies. Children's small bodies do not have an adult's ability to detoxify and excrete toxins, so they absorb proportionally higher doses of toxins per unit of body weight, which means that their organs may suffer significant damage more quickly because they are not fully developed. There has been no adequate testing into the long term impact of this chemical cocktail accumulation. So why chance it on your children, isnt it best to avoid them and use natural products.
Here is a brief list of chemicals often found in skin care and household cleaning products. Please note that this is not a complete list. For further information obtain a copy of the Chemical Maze – Bill Stantham. Also available from our Online Store.
Aluminium
Commonly used in deodorants and anti perspirants. Its long term exposure has long been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Aluminium-based complexes in these products react with the electrolytes in sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland; the plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid and are removed over time by the natural sloughing of the skin.
Caustics
Used in most soaps to break down the animal fat. An irritant to skin.
DEA Diethanolamine and MEA Monoethanolamine
A Lathering agent in shampoos and body cleansers. Is a skin and eye irritant and is toxic if used over a long period of time. Should be avoided. Tests have shown that DEA causes liver and kidney tumours in mice.
Glycol
A dangerous petrochemical used in many cosmetic preparation and as an anti-freeze in cars. This is no value to the skin but ensures that the cream glides easily on the skin.
Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative in shampoos, baby washes, bubble bath, nail polish, anti-aging cream, deodorant. Known to cause eye, nose and throat irritations, coughing, asmtha attacks, nausea, skin rashes, nose bleeds. It is a suspected carcinogen. Keep away! Know also as Formalin on the labels. The following chemicals are derived from Formalydehyde and are also best avoided.
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Diazolidinyl urea
• 2-bromo-2nitropane-1
• 3-diol
• DMDM hydantoin
• Quaternium 15
Flouride
An ingredient commonly found in toothpaste. Known to be a poison to humans when ingested over long period of time. Accumulates in the body tissues. Is a known Carcinogen (which is cancer causing) and Teratogen (which causes adverse affects to foetus)
Isopropyl Alcohol
Derived from petroleum, this anti- foaming agent is found in body lotions, after shave gels, other cosmetic products and in anti freeze and carpet cleaner. It is known to cause hair damage, skin irritation and damage to liver, kidney, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Also causes foetal /birth defects. One disturbing study states “Isopropyl alcohol is a poor skin disinfectant and has been associated with the greatest amount of tissue damage in newborn infants” and “solvents are highly toxic and are absorbed through the skin, so should not be used in newborns”
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
A common ingredient in thousands of cosmetic products including shampoos, conditioners, body washes, shaving foams, bubble baths and washing liquids. It is used in these products for its ability to foam and create lather. Often derived from petroleum, It works by stripping the skin from its natural oil but in turn can cause irritation harmful to hair and scalp causing dryness and itchiness.
Parabens
Is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics, shampoos, personal lubricants, moisturisers and deodorants. They are rapidly absorbed by the body and for many years were considered “safe” however many recent studies have shown toxic side effects including increased risk of breast cancer.
Paraffin
Derived from petroleum or tar and is commonly combined with lead in lipsticks . Often found in cold cream and moisturisers, paraffin makes the skin feel smoother. However, it is just the layer of paraffin that makes it feel smoother. It contributes to this commercial cycle of making us use the product all the time to prevent drying.
Petrochemicals
Petrolueum based chemicals can transmit into Xeno-estrogens. These natural estrogens are absorbed through the skin. And can affect hormone imbalance.
Phosphates
used in fertilisers and many laundry products. Causing problems in our waterways as excessive phosphates causes excessive amounts of algal growths. Help the environment and reduce the use laundry products that contain phosphates.
Propylene Glycol (PEG)
Used as a wetting agent and surfactant, found in moisturisers, personal lubricants, baby wipes, shampoos, lipstick and industrial anti freeze and hydraulic brake fluid. The United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requires its workers to wear protective clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. PEG's material safety data sheet indicates possible brain, liver and kidney abnormalities if the skin comes into contact with it. It is also found in brake fluid and anti-freeze. Try avoiding products that contain the following related propylene glycol. PEG(polythylene glycol) and PPG(polyporpylene glycol).
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References
• The Chemical Maze by Bill Stantham, 2006
• Cosmetic& Personal Care – Dangerous Beauty:Peter Dingle& Toni Brown, 1999
• Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS. Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol. 2004 Jan-Feb
• Elder, R. L. (1984). Final report on the safety assessment of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. J. Am. Coll. Toxicol. 3,
• Lark, S, MD. Are you dying to look good. The Lark Letter. Voll. 11, No.6 June 2004.
• Skin Deep. www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
• The Mayo Clinic – Guide to Self Care
• Choudhuri J, McQueen R, Inoue S, Gordon RC. Efficacy of skin sterilization for a venipuncture with the use of commercially available alcohol or iodine pads. Am J Infect Control. 1990;18:82-85.
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